Issue - meetings

(i) Stop the Council Tax Squeeze

A motion had been received and set out in the Summons in the names of:

Councillors C Boles, N Boroda, S Butler, C Cummins, U Farooq, R Gold, J Grimshaw, S Haroon, M Hayes, T Holt, K Leach, G McGill, C Morris, B Mortenson, E O’Brien, K Peel, T Pilkington, A Quinn, D Quinn, T Rafiq, A Simpson, L Smith, T Tariq, K Thomas, S Walmsley, C Walsh and M Whitby.

The Chancellor and Conservative Government have openly admitted that this winter will be tough for many as we see soaring energy prices, rising costs in shops and cuts in Universal Credit. With the Bank of England warning a possible rise of inflation as high as 5%, many people across Bury are facing a real cost of living crisis – one that has been exacerbated by last month’s Budget.

Despite a 10% hike in national insurance on workers and businesses, local councils across the country are facing no other but to also raise council tax next year in order to maintain frontline services - in fact, the Government’s spending figures for local government rely on councils doing so, it is there in black and white in the Budget.

The council notes:

• That direct funding to local government has been cut year on year by the Conservatives with a cut to Bury Council of over £100 million so far since 2010.
• That the Conservative Government’s latest Budget expects us to raise Council Tax by 3% in order to increase our spending power.
• Even with this hike in Council Tax, Bury Council will still be forced to make around £18m in cuts by the financial year 2023/24.

This council resolves to:

1. Call on the Government to stop the squeeze and fund Bury Council directly to avoid increases in council tax.
2. Call on the Government to reverse tax cuts on banks and consider a windfall levy on individuals and enterprise whose wealth grew exponentially in the pandemic.
3. Write to Bury’s Conservative MPs asking them to co-sign a letter demanding true levelling up for Bury, by restoring our direct funding grant so that Council Tax payers don’t have to bear an even heavier burden of funding vital local services, which should be funded by Government.

 (ii)  Supporting our wonderful high streets over the festive period

A motion had been received and set out in the Summons in the names of:

Bernstein, Brown, Caserta, Cropper, Dean, Gartside, Harris, Lancaster, Hurst, Hussain, N Jones, Lewis, McBriar, Rydeheard, Vernon, Y Wright

The Council recognises:

Bury Council notes the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic has had on residents and businesses across the borough over the last two years. The Borough owes a debt of gratitude to our key workers, residents, businesses and organisations for all that they have done through the pandemic.

As the festive period approaches the Council must do all it can to support our fantastic independent businesses across the borough and our high streets

The Council notes:

The Government  ...  view the full agenda text for item 40

(i) Stop the Council Tax Squeeze

A motion had been received and set out in the Summons in the names of:

Councillors C Boles, N Boroda, S Butler, C Cummins, U Farooq, R Gold, J Grimshaw, S Haroon, M Hayes, T Holt, K Leach, G McGill, C Morris, B Mortenson, E O’Brien, K Peel, T Pilkington, A Quinn, D Quinn, T Rafiq, A Simpson, L Smith, T Tariq, K Thomas, S Walmsley, C Walsh and M Whitby.

The Chancellor and Conservative Government have openly admitted that this winter will be tough for many as we see soaring energy prices, rising costs in shops and cuts in Universal Credit. With the Bank of England warning a possible rise of inflation as high as 5%, many people across Bury are facing a real cost of living crisis – one that has been exacerbated by last month’s Budget.

Despite a 10% hike in national insurance on workers and businesses, local councils across the country are facing no other but to also raise council tax next year in order to maintain frontline services - in fact, the Government’s spending figures for local government rely on councils doing so, it is there in black and white in the Budget.

The council notes:

• That direct funding to local government has been cut year on year by the Conservatives with a cut to Bury Council of over £100 million so far since 2010.
• That the Conservative Government’s latest Budget expects us to raise Council Tax by 3% in order to increase our spending power.
• Even with this hike in Council Tax, Bury Council will still be forced to make around £18m in cuts by the financial year 2023/24.

This council resolves to:

1. Call on the Government to stop the squeeze and fund Bury Council directly to avoid increases in council tax.
2. Call on the Government to reverse tax cuts on banks and consider a windfall levy on individuals and enterprise whose wealth grew exponentially in the pandemic.
3. Write to Bury’s Conservative MPs asking them to co-sign a letter demanding true levelling up for Bury, by restoring our direct funding grant so that Council Tax payers don’t have to bear an even heavier burden of funding vital local services, which should be funded by Government.

On being put with

(ii)  Supporting our wonderful high streets over the festive period

A motion had been received and set out in the Summons in the names of:

Bernstein, Brown, Caserta, Cropper, Dean, Gartside, Harris, Lancaster, Hurst, Hussain, N Jones, Lewis, McBriar, Rydeheard, Vernon, Y Wright

The Council recognises:

Bury Council notes the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic has had on residents and businesses across the borough over the last two years. The Borough owes a debt of gratitude to our key workers, residents, businesses and organisations for all that they have done through the pandemic.

As the festive period approaches the Council must do all it can to support our fantastic independent businesses across the borough and our high streets

The  ...  view the full minutes text for item 40